CUSTOMER POLICY

Refunds & Cancellations

This policy explains cancellation, refund, duplicate-payment and fulfilment rules for ResearchRank certificate services.

1. Digital certificate orders

ResearchRank checks certificate eligibility before payment. A digital certificate order may be cancelled before successful payment. After a verified payment and certificate issuance/download, the digital service is treated as delivered and is generally non-refundable because the personalized certificate and permanent verification record have already been created.

2. Duplicate or incorrect payments

If the same ResearchRank order is charged more than once, or an amount is received but cannot be matched to an eligible order, contact contact@researchrank.net with the order reference and payment reference. Verified duplicate/excess payments are eligible for refund to the original payment method where technically available.

3. Failed or pending payments

A failed, cancelled or abandoned gateway attempt does not issue a certificate. If a debit is shown by your bank while the ResearchRank order remains unpaid, allow the payment gateway/bank reconciliation period to complete and then contact support with the transaction reference if the amount has not reversed.

4. Physical memento and printed certificate

The optional physical memento + printed certificate bundle is a separate fulfilment item. It can be cancelled before dispatch by contacting support. Once dispatched, shipping/fulfilment costs are not normally refundable except where the item is not delivered because of a fulfilment error attributable to the seller, or where applicable law requires otherwise. Incorrect or incomplete delivery addresses supplied by the customer may require additional shipping charges.

5. Data or eligibility disputes

A disagreement with a live rank after payment does not by itself create a refund right because research metrics can change as scholarly-source data refreshes. If the wrong scholarly profile was used because of a demonstrable processing error before certificate issue, contact support promptly so the order can be reviewed.

6. Refund processing

Approved refunds are initiated to the original payment method whenever supported. Bank/payment-gateway posting time is controlled by the relevant bank or gateway. ResearchRank will communicate the refund reference when available.

7. How to request a cancellation or refund

Email contact@researchrank.net or use the Contact Us page. Include the ResearchRank order number, payer email, payment reference and a short explanation. Never send a card number, CVV, online-banking password or OTP.

Last updated: 11 August 2026

DETAILED GUIDANCE

Detailed service guidance

ResearchRank separates source data, analytical calculations, eligibility, payment, issuance and permanent verification so each step can be understood independently.

How should this page be interpreted?

Source-linked scholarly metadata describes the profile; ResearchRank calculations add ranking and recognition context. Eligibility is assessed independently of payment, and the certificate registry records the issued recognition separately from the changing live profile.

What happens when research data changes?

Profiles and rankings may change when indexed works, citations, affiliations, topics, open-access status or source records refresh. An issued certificate preserves its issue-time evidence and context; the live research profile can continue to evolve.

How are certification and payment separated?

Eligibility is determined before payment. Payment cannot create, increase or improve eligibility. Online payment must be verified by the server before certificate release; approved manual transfers follow the same issuance controls.

How are rankings and recognition calculated?

Ranking pages identify their ranking basis and evaluated population. Percentile recognition uses the profile's eligible ranking position relative to that population. Composite indicators are analytical aids and do not silently replace the stated ranking basis.

How is customer information protected?

Contact and delivery information is used for order fulfilment, certificate access, fraud prevention and limited transactional reminders. Sensitive payment credentials are handled by secure gateway components rather than stored in ResearchRank.

How does permanent verification work?

Each issued certificate receives a unique certificate number and verification record. Verification can show certificate status, issue date, recognition context and recorded scholarly evidence. A QR/reference on the PDF can point back to that record.

What are the limitations of bibliographic data?

Open scholarly metadata can contain author disambiguation errors, affiliation gaps, duplicate records, incomplete coverage and field differences. Source identifiers and linked records should be reviewed when the result is used for formal assessment.

What is the difference between live data and issue-time evidence?

Live data is refreshed for discovery and analytics. Issue-time evidence is the snapshot/context attached to the certificate transaction. This distinction helps preserve what was recognised even when current metrics later change.

How should ResearchRank recognition be described?

Use the exact certificate title and ResearchRank recognition class shown on the verification record. Do not describe a ResearchRank certificate as an official award or endorsement from OpenAlex, ORCID, a university, publisher or another external data source unless that organisation separately confirms it.